The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-09-05
GOVERNOR GRAY ON INDIANA POLITICS.

The Louisville Courier ournal gives Gov
ernor Gray interview and political send-off,
evidently intended to promote his vice presi-
Dental boom. The Courier-Journal says: ga
solid delegation from Indiana will present his
name to the national Democratic convention
and will urge his nomination with all the ar
| guments at their command" This seems to
be notice that the Governor is in the race,
though he modestly says sit is long way off,
and l unable to say at present just what
:. will do" Read between the lines, this prob
! ably means that he has two or three things in
4 view, and has not yet decided which he will
! go for. Meanwhile the vice presidential
boom is being carefully nursed and cultivated,
/ and if the tide be turned in the Govern
or's direction he will not decline the honor.
Concerning the political outlook in this
| State the Governor said:
Indiana will be all right at the next cleo
ton, and there will be a large Democratic
| majority. Of course there will have to be
| thorough organization. We lost the last time
| partially because we had no organization, but
| more on account of dsaffection in the party.
| The Republican office holders were being re-
I tired too slowly to suit most people, and then
great many of the appointments did not
| give general satisfaction. Had the election
| occurred three weeks later Captain Nelson
would have been elected Lieutenant-governor
| by good majority for the people had then
| to a better understanding in regard to
| the matter"
1t is the business of politician to put the
best foot foremost and make the best showing
he can for his party and himself. Governor
Gray is an adept at this. The statement that
the Democracy lost the State last year on
account of imperfect organization and because
Republican office holders were being retired
too slowly" is a very adroit and complete mis-
| representation of the case. The fact is, these
causes had little or nothing to do with the
| defeat of the Democracy last year. They
as well if not better organized than
! usual, and the dissatisfaction in regard to
the distribution of patronage not an
appreciate factor. 1t had but little effect
| and really cut no figure in the case. The real
cause of the Democratic defeat last year was
popular disapproval and disgust with the
| Democratic party. The people were dissatis-
fed with Democratic management of
| State finances, State institutions and State
/ affairs generally, and when the election came
/ they passed vote of censure on the Democ-
racy In other words they turned them out
| of office and power. 1t was a popular up
| rising and political revolution that took the
| Democratic leaders entirely by surprise. They
were not prepared for anything of the kind.
| The Republicans even came within ace of
~ e.
would have done so. This was the more sur
prising because the Democratic party had
gerrymandered the State in such a way as to
| disfranchise nearly one fourth OF its voters
and expected to hold the Legislature by
| large majority for years to come. But they
were driven out of Office by a storm of popu-
| lar indignation that left them with hardly
standing ground in the State. This was the
| origin and cause of the Democratic defeat last
| year. Governor Gray's statement is the
| trick of a politician to cover up the
| weakness of his party and to make the best
| showing possible of a bad case. The same
| causes that defeated the party last year are
| still operating with increasing and cumulative
| force. The people are more strongly con-
| WINGED than ever of the rottenness and imbe-
| cility of the recent Democratic administra-
ton of State affairs. Last year they believed
| the treasury had been msmanaged, the rev.
enues misappropriated and frittered away
| the benevolent institutions prostituted and
| debauched by a corrupt ring, the southern
| prison plundered, and every branch of the
| State government made to pay tribute to the
worst elements of the Democratic party. Last
year they believed all this; now they know it.
| That which last year was an unconfrmed sus-
| picion is now an established fact and the
| feeling of popular disapproval and disgust to-
ward the Democratic party is stronger than
| ever, and still growing. Since last year other
| causes have been added to those which existed
| before. tending to swell the volume of popu-
lar censure. The conduct of the Democracy
relative to the Lieutenant governorship made
deep and lasting impression on the
| public mind. Their open defiance of the Con-
stitution, the laws and the popoular will, and
the attempt to accomplish by revolution
what they failed to do at the polls, has added
another count to the indictment under which
they will be arraigned at the next general
sessions and brought to the bar of an outraged
public opinion Still another bill of partcu-
| lars has been added by the damnable expos
ures at the Insane Hospital by the refusal of
| Harrison and Gapen to surrender the Offices
they have disgraced. Although the Govern
or has meekly submitted to an open defiance
of the executive authority by these men, he
must not expect the people to ignore the stu
alton in a similar spirit of abject submission.
| They will strike at the party that harbors such